Kotori: Alright girls! Let's start picking up our swimsuits!!!
Smack!
Miku: DON'T YELL THAT YOU IDIOT!
After training Kaneki, the Higanbana girls went to the mall with him to pick their swimsuits for the beach trip the next day.
But surprisingly they and Kaneki weren't the only ones going to the beach, why? Because Kaneki actually invited their entire class including the Shirogane family.
Azusa: Thank you for inviting us cousin.
Kaneki: I do feel bad for beating you guys badly, so it's the least I could do.
Kaneki inviting the entire class to join the beach trip was a bit surprising, so wanting to know the reason Natsuki approached him and asked him why he did it.
Natsuki: I'm surprised you actually invited all our classmates, what made you do that Kaneki?
Kaneki: Nothing I just want everyone to have fun.
He wore a bright and innocent smile as he answered, this response made Natsuki very happy.
She took his hand and held onto it gently and raised
Natsuki: Let's get ourselves some swimsuits!
Kaneki: Let's go!
Kaneki and Natsuki proceeded to the swimsuit store of the mall alongside everyone else.
A few minutes later~
Shino: What about this one?
Kaneki: It looks nice I guess?
Sachi: C'mon Kaneki pick the ones you'd prefer us to wear at the beach.
Kaneki: But why my preference???
Kaneki was helping the Higanbana girls pick their swimsuits, but there was one problem.
Chikao: What about this?
Kaneki: Um... Good?
The Higanbana girls were trying to make Kaneki pick their swimsuits for them, but he has no preferences for them which caused a bit of a problem.
Kaneki: Seriously why do you guys want me to choose your swimsuits?
Miku: C'mon don't you want to see us in cute swimsuits?
Miku said in a teasing tone while making a cutesy pose.
Kaneki: Heh? I don't really understand. Hey Emi-kun what's the appeal of a girls swimsuits?
Confused by his sister, Kaneki turned to Emi for an answer.
Emi: Umm... Well...
But Emi couldn't give him an answer.
Tilt~
Still confused Kaneki let out a deep sigh as he made a drastic decision.
Kaneki: Sigh~ you guys want me to choose for you? Fine then.
Natsuki: Eh? Kaneki?
Kaneki began looking around the store looking at several swimsuits, and even touching them to get a feel.
Shino: W-Wait what is Kaneki doing?
Yuuka: I guess he's actually picking out swimsuits now.
The Higanbana girls just watched in amazement how Kaneki was just casually looking and touching girls swimsuits with no care at all.
After a little while he had returned with 6 sets of swimsuits in his hands, each one for the Higanbana girls.
Kaneki: Here try these on, if you don't like em I'll pick some others.
He handed Miku a black Monokini with huge flower on it.
Natsuki: Ohh~ this one looks nice.
Miku: Thanks Onii-chan!
Kaneki: Your welcome.
After receiving some thanks frombis his sister. He handed Natsuki a skirted bottom swimsuit which was completely white.
Natsuki: Ahhh~ it looks so cute!
After giving Natsuki and Miku their swimsuits, Kaneki proceeded and gave the rest their swimsuits.
Chikao received a navy blue bikini.
Sachi a sunny yellow retro bikini.
Yuuka and Shino both received a pair of white Bandeau's.
Surprisingly all of the ones Kaneki picked seemed to be not so revealing.
Shino, Sachi, Yuuka & Chikao: Thanks Kaneki ♡
After thanking him, the Higanbana girls went to the fitting rooms to see if their swimsuits would fit.
Azusa: I have to admit cousin, you have some taste.
Kaneki: What's that supposed to mean? I only picked those specific swimsuits because they looked and felt comfortable.
Azusa: Oh yeah that's right, you're pretty innocent.
Kaneki: ???
Kotori: Don't take offense Kaneki-chan, but I have to admit you did pretty well choosing such comfortable swimsuits.
Kaneki: Well I have to choose the most comfortable ones for them, speaking of choosing shouldn't you help your boyfriend, cousin?
He pointed towards Emi who was also picking a swimsuit for Azusa but compared to him.
Emi: A-Am I even allow to touch this?
He was more of a coward.
Azusa: Hehe~ it's alright, he can do it. Besides most of the clothes I wear are mostly his choices.
Kaneki: Stare~ Man what's with girls making boys pick the stuff they wear?
Azusa: What else? Wearing the clothes or in this case swimsuits chosen by the boy they like feels good. Besides they would also like to look cute in front of the boy they like.
Kaneki gets her point but to him, the Higanbana girls already looked cute since the beginning.
Kaneki: Yeah but they already look cute to begin with.
Azusa: Haha! Wow who would have expected you to be a smooth boyfriend to them.
Kaneki: What are you talking about?
That questioned shocked Azusa, she stared and asked him in a surprised tone.
Azusa: Wait, so are you saying you aren't dating them?!
Kaneki: No? We're just friends.
Azusa was completely surprised, she knew how close he and the Higanbana girls were and thought they were surely dating.
She then turned to Kotori.
Kotori: Yeah it's true, despite how close Kaneki-chan and the girls are they aren't actually dating.
Kaneki: I honestly don't get dating. You apparently become boyfriend and girlfriend but doesn't that mean you two are still friends?
Azusa: Sigh~.
Knowing explaining in complete detail would be too long, Azusa stopped herself doing that and instead asking a simple question.
Azusa: Are those girls special to you?
Kaneki: Of course! I really like them a whooole~ lot!
Azusa: Dating is in my eyes a trial towards marriage.
The moment Azusa mentioned marriage Kaneki's eyes widened, he was getting more curious.
Kaneki: What do you mean?
Azusa: Well it starts when you develop special feelings for your special person. For example me and Emi-kun.
She looked towards at Emi who was still struggling to pick a swimsuit for her as she continues to talk with a smile.
Azusa: Me and Emi were together for so long, and he had always helped me with everything. He is cute, dependable and has many other good points that he can't see.
Kaneki: I can see what you mean, he is trying his best right now.
Azusa: Right? When he puts his mind into it he never gives up, so I developed special feelings for him and wanted to be with him forever.
Kaneki: So when you said dating is a trial for marriage... You mean you want to be with him forever?
Azusa wore a smile of a girl in love as she responded.
Azusa: Of course. Emi-kun is very special to me, why wouldn't I want to be forever.
Kaneki: I see...
Kaneki could somewhat understand how his cousin felt but there was one thing he hasn't understand yet.
Kaneki: What is this special feeling anyways?
He still didn't understand what this special feeling was, it was already obvious but Azusa told him.
Azusa: What else? Love.
Kaneki: ...
Kaneki was just puzzled, he still couldn't understand.
Kaneki: I mean already do love my friends.
Azusa: That's just it though, you only "love" them as friends. Loving them as someone special and loving them as friends are different.
Kaneki: ...
Kaneki was beginning to doubt if he really thought that his friends were special after hearing Azusa say that.
Azusa: Well I honestly doubt you just love them as friends though.
Kaneki: Huh?
But he was surprised with what she had to say next.
Azusa: Just like me, you want to be with them forever right?
Kaneki: Of course.
Azusa: Then you already love them like how I love Emi-kun, you just haven't realize it yet.
Kaneki just stared in shock he still hasn't realized his feelings for them.
Kaneki: H-How can you be sure? I don't even know myself.
So Azusa gave him one last push for him to realize.
Azusa: Have you ever felt a warm feeling in your chest when you're with them? Has your heart beated faster or even skipped a beat when you're with them? When you touch or even just when you're just around them?
When she said that something had happened in Kaneki's head.
Flash~!
A bright light flashed in his head, and memories of his time with the Higanbana girls began flooding his mind.
Every memory, both good and bad we're all flooding his mind.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Sachi & Shino: That was awesome Kaneki!
From when he became "Kotarou" of Project Kizuna.
All 4: Kaneki/Onii-chan!
To his childhood with Sachi, Shino Yuuka and Miku.
So many memories flashing before his eyes, but the ones that affected him the most was...
Natsuki: I knew it! You're special!
The memories of the Higanbana girls in the last two months.
From his first meeting with Natsuki, to his time in the camping trip with Shino, the search for the crown with Yuuka bonding with Miku and Chikao and now buying swimsuits for the beach trip.
Doki! Doki! Doki!
Hug~!
All of his memories with them made his heart race.
And this feeling in his heart was really familiar. Though he had lost it once it had returned and it had put him in a trance, where he whispered to himself.
Kaneki: Am I... In love with them?
Asking such a deep question about his feelings was so much for him to handle, so much that steam began coming out of his head.
Steam~
Azusa: Is that steam?!
Kotori: Oh I think you've overloaded him.
Emi: Azusa-chan! Here I picked your swimsuit and I hope you- what happened to Kaneki-san???
Emi-kun had returned to see Kaneki steaming so much from his head, becoming very surprised by the strange sight.
Azusa: Well... I explain later. Oh looks like they're done.
Kotori: Welcome back guys!
As Kaneki was still in a trance, the Higanbana girls all returned with their swimsuits after they finished trying them out.
Natsuki: Thanks Kaneki! These fit us perfectly.
Chikao: Yeah. We won't show them to you yet so wait for tomorrow.
Sachi, Shino, Yuuka & Miku: So you better prepare yourself!
Kaneki: ...
Though they were teasing him, due to still being in a trance Kaneki didn't heard them and didn't respond.
Natsuki: Um. What happened?
Azusa: No-
Kotori: Kaneki-chan and Azusa-chan had a little talk which led him to well end up like that.
Glare!
Upon hearing what Kotori said, the Higanbana girls glared at Azusa thinking she said something bad to him.
Azusa: I didn't say anything bad, you can trust me.
Natsuki: Then what did you tell him?
Azusa: I rather not say.
Shino: Sigh~ And here we thought nothing will happen.
Yuuka: Wait does this mean we'll have to wait until he's back to normal?
With Kaneki not responding or moving, Miku had an idea to see what exactly was wrong with Kaneki.
Miku: Hey Natsuki could you-
Natsuki: Got it.
She wanted Natsuki to see the color of Kaneki's soul which would probably help them figure out what happened to him.
Natsuki already understood this and immediately used her ability to see into his soul but she was very surprised to see what colors his soul was.
Natsuki: !!!
Miku: So what did you see?
After seeing his colors, Natsuki faced Azusa and asked.
Natsuki: Did you... Talk to him about love?
Azusa: Hehe~ sorry.
All 6: Seriously?!
The Higanbana girls were completely shocked after learning what Kaneki and Azusa had talked about.
Natsuki's thoughts*
(So does this mean... Kaneki is going to start falling in love with us?)